The really important stuff!

I am finalizing all of the details of my trip to Arizona to meet NieNie and her family. All of my work material is organized and packed, passport tucked away safely and US dollars organized by presidents in my wallet. (You really need to colour coordinate your money like we do...it's so confusing! ;-)

I can always hear my mother's voice in my head, "Now Linda, be sure you aren't handing over a ten instead of a one!!" I can always count on her for sound advice

On my recent trip to Bangor, I picked up some pretty clothes. Lots of ruffles, soft colours and even a fun pair of gladiator sandals that don't make me look like I'm clinging to my youth too much, I hope.

Here are some of the pieces coming with me:

Two white skirts and an embellished t-shirt from Target:

And from New York Company (Bangor Mall...I know, I'm fancy)

This sweater is even prettier in real life. Very Anthro and I should have gotten one in another colour, too.

Dumb...dumb!

I bought it to go with this dress:

Now, I know what you are thinking: I will look like a mad fool in this dress. But remember, I am 5 ft 4" and am wearing the above sweater (which really does match) with it. So it is not too short and is actually very pretty together; I know this for certain because my mother told me so!!

I also bought this pretty top, which looks great with my white pants and the silver, ruffled flip flops below:

And these sandals in cream. They are very comfortable and not high enough that I feel like Kate Gosselin, either. Because I am NOT a fan of her shoes!

I also bought a very pretty sundress and light sweater at The Gap, kind of nautical, but not so much that it screams Farewell to Nova Scotia. Because, you know I try to be a good ambassador to Canada when I travel. No embarrassing everyone!

...bring May showers.

A scorcher of a day on Monday led me to uncoil the hose, hook up the sprinkler and sit back and laugh at the squeals of (cold) delight as my girlie and her pals tiptoed not through the tulips, but the woman-made showers that mothers everywhere know are pure bliss.

Summer...

Bring it on!

Back Deck Make-over!

Short on time (much gardening and more painting to do), this is the Cole's Notes version of my deck make-over:

Dull and in dire need of some sprucing up, I set out to brighten and whiten with what felt like forty coats of paint with a solid stain and one (yes one!) coat of a beigey stain on the deck floor. Why? Sheer laziness and nothing the purchase of a great outdoor rug (on sale for $31 at Zellers!) won't mask...

The handyman took the old top off his original table (and employing old Singer sewing machine legs he found in the woods many years ago). I spray-painted the legs silver for a change and he built a new table, which I promptly painted.

He also built new space-saving benches to replace our bulkier metal chairs and I picked up some great bright yellow chairs at Winners ( = T.J. Maxx/HomeGoods).

Moved everything around, bought a new barbecue cover for our start-of-season-new-purchase of one and re-used the stripey umbrella, now five years old.

Other details: cork placemats from Walmart, vintage blue vase from the Meads, and tulips bought for myself from the grocery store.

And that's that!

Revealing some Secrets...

As some of you know, I am filling the role of Executive Editor for the upcoming HOLIDAY with Matthew Mead magazine, launching in October 2010. Let's just say, there is a whole lot more to do in that role than there was in my role as Editor-at-Large of Flea Market Style, so I have hit the ground running and am learning along the way. I juggle many hats on this project and feel challenged in ways I never imagined. It is exciting and busy and so much fun!

I also have a few secrets to reveal, so head on over to Holiday where we have a few exciting developments to share on the blog today.

We are busy, but happy!

Let the Sunshine in...

We finally had a warm, sunny day and I felt like the race was on to squeeze everything I could from it.

You know how a good cry can make you so very, very tired? Well, I didn't cry but I have that same feeling of tiredness behind my eyes. I think it was the sun...and the little bits of the day that reminded me that you should tackle a day head on and enjoy it to the fullest.

My sunny day included:

This morning I received the nicest letter from a friend, which made me feel appreciated and valued.

I went for a nice, brisk walk and enjoyed a good chat with my walking buddy and enjoyed scanning the streets for "treasures."It is Spring clean-up week and folks are allowed to leave (basically) whatever they want out for pick-up. Didn't find anything of interest, but got rid of some big items, myself!

I went to the hardware store, driving the handy-man's big a*s truck, and picked up some deck stain. It was interesting trying to jump down from it while wearing a skirt! :-)

Painted my new chairs and my new benches. Yep, my neighbours probably cringe when they see us dragging the saw-horses out onto the lawn..which we do a lot during the warm months.

My chairs are now look just like this:

Came in and made the most delicious chicken wrap (chicken, lettuce and hot sauce!) and drank one of these while sitting on my porch swing.

Hung a nice line of clothes out. They dried wrinkle free!

Cuddled a six-week old kitten while at the vet. Is is possible to be a foster mother to kittens? Because I could eat them up they are so adorable!!

Back home and painted my deck walls white. SO much better! Sadly, it took entirely longer than I thought it would and I am going to be a few more days at it. Tell me it is worth it, right?

The handy-man came home and took one look at my efforts and declared that he would make dinner for me! Yay!

Barbecued hamburgers...heavenly!

Now getting caught up on HOLIDAY work. Only two more weeks until we head to Arizona for NieNie's shoot. I can't wait to give her a hug and tell her how inspiring she is. And squeeze her baby's cheeks, of course. Though, if he is anything like my baby boy at that age, he might give me a slap!

And that is that. Bone tired, I tell you. I gave my best to that old sun and now I have a face full of new, summer freckles...oh, there are so very many. I get so many, in fact, that I have to use this to prevent a freckle moustache:

 Because once I get one, it doesn't go away until winter!!

So, what did you do today?

Dichotomy...

This photo pretty much sums up my days lately, with a few little differences.

I am painting chairs and benches blue and tables white for my current deck make-over project.

And thinking of all things HOLIDAY, which doesn't feel as strange as you would think it would.

Problem is, once Christmas finally arrives, will I be thinking of summer?

(photo source: Country Living)

Changing things up!

I haven't had time lately to do many home improvement projects (nor have we had the weather) but I decided to do a mini-makeover here and there. I picked up an old map a couplemof years ago and loved it for its colours and its chocolate bar origins. I took down the shelf, etc. in my dining area and replaced it with my new/old map.

What do you think?

I am thinking I now need to change out my light to something more modern and casual. Maybe my current fixture can go in my bedroom.

(The handyman is NOT going to be happy!!)

I am strongly considering this:

(source: Ikea)

Oh, and I got some new chairs for both ends of my dining table!

These (except I am painting them, if we ever get a nice day):

I could stand to shake things up!

A No-Fail recipe!

I had a great Mother's Day.

Except it wasn't a day and I wasn't anywhere near my kids.

What kind of mother am I?

I have come to realize -or remember - that I am a daughter, too; and shouldn't I be spending Mother's Day with MY mother?

So, every Mother's Day weekend (and it should be an entire weekend, because we work HARD!), I head south of the border to go shopping with the women in my life, who are inclined to feel the same way.

Because isn't eating great great food, laughing at our own jokes, and shopping till we (literally) drop a winning combination?

(Yeses only, please...)

And while I'm away, my brood entertains my mother-in-law and they partake of lobster (which I hate) and take her out for Chinese food and eat all of the pies she brings along. Really, it is a win-win situation.

And while I am away, I send text messages and reminders to make me heart-felt home-made cards (teen-agers and all) or ELSE!! And they do, because they are good children.

And when I get home, I bring in my parcels, collect my hugs and cards, and eat the left-over Chinese food they save for me.

And that is my version of a no-fail Mother's Day!

Etsy-itis!!

As I continue work on HOLIDAY and other projects, I have discovered some of the most talented Etsy artists and it is proving to be a bit of a bad good habit!

Because I am loving all of the feminine and ruffly clothes, in shades of pale pinks, grey and yellow - and all of the snappy navy and white/cream, I have been on the hunt for some great jewelry.

I like pretty jewelry, and what better source for redesigned vintage baubles than Etsy?

 I have been on the hunt for the perfect yellow necklace, and I am happy to say I have found it. It is from the talented artist, Crystal Beutler, and I can't wait to wear it!

I am taking it to Arizona when I go to meet NieNie. Crystal designed the All is Well necklace NieNie wore when she hiked the Y, one year after her accident:

And I picked up this stunner (from Nest Pretty Things), which is so pretty it literally made me sigh when I saw it:

 Unfortunately, so did almost every other piece she has for sale.

I also purchased these little gloves from another Etsy vendor, which don't really fit my hands too well, but Sophie will love playing with. Not sure why I bought them, but they just appealed to me:

I bought a little piece of artwork from this talented gal:

(titled, Where I Go to Think...)

Do you see what I mean? It is dangerous, I say, dangerous!!

I think I've become one of those people who works in a pretty store and spends her pay-cheque on the merchandise!!

What about you, are you hooked on Etsy??

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By the way, if you are an Etsy vendor, did you know you can purchase affordable advertising in Holiday and win the chance for your shop to be given a full-page ad spread in the magazine?

For the details, go HERE.

AnthropoloNIE...

Love Anthropologie?

Love NieNie?

Well over at the HOLIDAY blog, we have the best of both worlds.

All for Mother's Day!!

Check it out!!